Ben Stokes has been named Sportsman of the Year at the British Sports Awards as the England cricket team won three awards on the day.
England’s World Cup winners were named Team of the Year, while Jofra Archer picked up Newcomer of the Year for his standout displays in his first summer of international cricket.
Stokes was instrumental in England’s World Cup win in the early summer, scoring 465 runs at an average of 66. He hit five 50s in the tournament, including a vital unbeaten 84 in the final against New Zealand to take the match to the famous Super Over, in which he scored eight more runs to take England to an unassailable total.
Well deserved Stokesy👏🏽 #ForTheNorth https://t.co/oQl6Bn5aS3
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) November 28, 2019
The Durham all-rounder hit the front pages again in August by taking England to a nail-biting one-wicket victory in the 3rd Specsavers Ashes Test at Emerald Headingley, keeping the series alive.
He scored 135no in the fourth innings, including a spell of ferocious hitting and expert game management when down to the final wicket partnership with Jack Leach which yielded 76 runs in ten overs.
Stokes said of his award: “It’s a huge honour to receive this award in what has been an outstanding year for not only English cricket, but British sport as a whole.
“I’ve been fortunate to be part of some great teams this summer that have helped move cricket into the national conversation and I’ve loved playing a role in the sport’s growth in the last 12 months.
“It has been incredible to see the increase in popularity of the sport, especially with children now wanting to emulate the likes of Jofra, Eoin and myself. Hopefully we’ve inspired the next generation of World Cup and Ashes winners.”
Archer burst onto the international scene this summer, making his England debut in the ODI against Ireland in May. His pace and variety saw him take 20 wickets in the World Cup and was trusted to bowl the Super Over, which ultimately took England to victory.
The Sussex seamer made his Test debut in the 2nd Specsavers Ashes Test at Lord’s, going on to take 22 wickets in four matches at 20 runs-a-piece, helping seal him the Newcomer award at the event organised by the Sport Journalists Association.
And Eoin Morgan’s team were judged Britain’s best at the ceremony in central London for uniting the nation with the Cricket World Cup victory.